Major Airline Cancels All Flights to NYC's Busiest Airport
Air Canada will suspend service to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport this summer as soaring jet fuel prices tied to the war in Iran force airlines to rein in less profitable routes.
Canada's flag carrier said Friday that flights from Toronto and Montreal to JFK will end June 1 and resume Oct. 25. Service to the New York area's other major airports, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International, will continue.
The Montreal‑based airline said it will contact affected customers with alternative travel options.
"As jet fuel prices have doubled since the start of the Iran conflict and some lower‑profitability routes and flights are no longer economic, we are making schedule adjustments accordingly," an Air Canada spokesperson said.
According to Argus Media, the average price of jet fuel reached $4.32 per gallon Thursday, up from $2.50 before fighting erupted in Iran. Although oil prices fell more than 10% on Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz had reopened to commercial oil tankers, fuel costs remain sharply higher than earlier this year.
Fuel and labor typically represent airlines' largest operating expenses. Several carriers have warned that higher fuel costs will significantly affect earnings. Delta Air Lines said this month that higher fuel prices are expected to add about $2 billion to its second‑quarter expenses.
Other airlines are also adjusting to the pressure. Carriers including JetBlue and United Airlines have raised baggage fees, while others are reducing service on select routes.
In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Thursday, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned that Europe may have "maybe six weeks" of jet fuel supplies remaining. He said the global economy is facing its "largest energy crisis," driven by disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East.
The war has strained global energy markets, leaving airlines increasingly vulnerable to sudden spikes in fuel prices.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Newsweek's reporters and editors used Martyn, our Al assistant, to help produce this story. Learn more about Martyn.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 1:15 PM.